Washing machine



Apr. 24, 1923.

A. c. SCHMELZER WASHiNG MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29 191$ BYaZATTORNEY5.

A. c. SCHME'LZER WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR W" rm TTORNEYS.

Apr. 24, 1923. 1,452,710

A. C. SCHMELZER WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR i country, and having intentlons of becomlng a citizen of thePatented Apr. 24, 1923.

' UNITED "STATES ATE OFFICE.

mow c. scnuanzaa, or srmnermnnrmassacnnsn'r'rs, assmuoa. B! uasm:assmmmms, 'ro cnmnnv macnmnmr conroaa'riomor HOLYOKE, msa- J cnnsn'r'rs,A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

wnsrfrme MACHINE.

Application med-An lia 29, 919. Serial 1w. $20,717;

T 0 all whom z'tmay concern. v

Be it known that I, ANTON C. Scnmnnzan, born ;in Hungary of Hungarianparents, now believing myself to bee. citizen of that formally declaredmy United States'of America in conformance with the United Statesimmigration laws,

Springfield, in the State of Massachusetts, United States ofAmerica,.ha've in: vented certain new and useful Improvements inlVashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing machines, and, more particularly, tomachines and now residing at 10 county of Hampden and for washing andrinsing or sterilizing drinking glasses, dishes and other articlesof'llke nature.

a washing machine, wherein washing and rinsing water may be deliveredinto the washing compartment of the machine through separate andindependently con- 2 trolled means, and wherein timing mechanism isemployed to actuate the'controlling device of each such means atproperly timed intervals.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of theclassdescribed, a

driving means for the timing mechanism arranged to utilize some ofrinsing water as motive power.

Another object of the invention is to proride a washing machine having acompartment in which water may be maintained at substantially ,aconstant level, means connecting the lower portion of such compartmentto the upper portion thereof, together with means in the nature of aninjector to circulate such water.

Another object of the invention is to prov. vide in a washing machineautomatic feeding means to periodically supply measured quantities ofsoap or the like thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a washing machinegenerally improved mechanical structure.

. Other objects and advantages will appear in the following descriptionand in the illustrative embodiment of theinvention in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- 'Fig. 1 is a front-elevational view of a washingmachine embodying the invention;

An objectof the invention is to provide.

- 1), which may be the washing and I washing and rinsing operations.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe machine; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view, taken on the line 44 of,Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6. are plan and elevational views respectively of nozzlesused with the machine;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevational view of a soapdispenser used with themachine; 7

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of one of the control valves; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of one of the check valves.

Referring to these drawings: A represents the casing of the machinewhich affords a chamber or washing compartment C. A door D hinged alongits lower edge at h affords access to compartment C and is mov- .able toa horizontal position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. '2, to provide ashelf upon which the articles to be washed may be placed. Such articlesare preferably" placed in a wire mesh tray or basket B (Fig. supportedby a plurality of cross rods 1- on door at (Figs. 2 and 41), and thtray, after the articles have been assembled therein, may be pushedalong the shelf forming door D into the compartment C. In the latter,and suitably supported from casing A as indicated, are two spaced angleiron tracks t along which the tray may be slid and thereafter supportedfor the -The washing and rinsing operations are accomplished by the useof the same twosets of nozzles, one set being located above and theother below the basket B. As shown in Fig. 4, a header pipe 11is-supported along the rear wall of easing A and this pipe supplies allthe nozzles of the lower set. There is a corresponding and similarlylocated header pipe 12 located above the basket B,

as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Connected to the header pipe 11at suitable intervals therealong, and extending forwardly toward thefront of casing A, are a plurality of nozzle pipes 13, the outer ends ofwhich terminate closely adjacent the front wall of the casing and arecapped, as indicated at 14. Removably connected to each pipe 13 atregularly spaced intervals therealong are a series of nozzles 15 whichproject upwardly therefrom. One of these nozzles is shown in Figs. 5 and6 and. as indirate streams, which streams are directed at many differentangles. The several nozzles are also spaced uniformly so as to cover theentire area of the compartment C beneath, or above. the basket B. Theresult is that there is no part of the basket B which is not reached bythe streams from the nozzles and, in fact, the streams from adjacent nozzles overlap and the streams from one crisscross those from the next toinsure that all parts of the basket B will be reached from many andwidely varying angles. This arrangement is important as providing foreffective washing and rinsing operations.

The header member 11 is connected, as shown in Fig. 4, to a pipe 19which extends vertically along and outside the rear wall of casing A topositions above and below the compartment. C- (see, Fig. 1). At itsupper end pipe 19 is connected to a check valve 20 (see also Fig. 9),and such valve permits water to enter, but not to leave the upper end ofpipe 19. At its lower end pipe 19 is connected to a check valve 21 whichlikewise permits water to enter, but not to leave the lower end of thepipe and which may be of the same construction as the valve 20. Theupper header pipe 12 is connected to pipe 19, in a manner similar tothat in which header pipe .ll is connected, and at a point between thecheckyalves. Through the check valve 21 the washing water is forcedupwardly through pipe 19 to both sets of nozzles, and through the checkvalve 20 the rinsing water is forced downwardly through the pipe 19 tothe same two sets of nozzles. There are separate, alternately operable,and automatically controlled means to deliver washing and rinsing Waterto the pipe 19, as will appear.

The water, used forboth washing and rinsing, enters through a pipe 22which is adapted for connection to a suitable supply of hot water. Pipe22 extends downwardly and is connected through the bottom wall of casingA to the compartment C. A thermometer T may be provided in pipe 22, ifdesired. and a valve 23 is interposed in pipe 22 and normally is closed.but can be opened to fill the lower part of compartment C, whennecessaryor desired. An overflow pipe'24, adapted for connection throughpipe 25 to the sewer or other drain, provides for a substantiallyconstant. level of water in compartment C. In the lower part of thelatter is a screened outlet 26 through which water from compartment Cmay flow into an elbow-shaped casing 27, which is connected, asindicated, to the check valve 21. Mounted in casing 27, and in line withits outlet end, is a nozzle 28 and such nozzle is connected by a pipe 29to a valve 30, (Fig. 3) mounted on the upper wall of casingA. Themembers 27 and 28 constitute an injector, operable by using wateradmitted into pipe 29 by valve 30 to force water, taken from the lowerpart of compartment C, through valve 21 and upwardly through pipe 19 tothe nozzles 15. A regulating valve 31 is interposed in pipe 29 tocontrol the flow to the injector 28 and to vary such flow as isnecessary or desired.

The main inlet pipe 22, is connected above wardly through pipe 19 toboth sets of nozzles.

Both valves 30 and 33 are similar and are of the well-known type whichautomatically close. As shown in detail in Fig. 8,

the valve 30 is formed with two chambers a and b separated by apartition 0 having an openingextending therethrough in which a valve (Zis normally seated. The valve (Z is carried at the lower end of a valvestem e which extends through a stutling box in the valve casing and isadapted to be lifted to open the valve. The valve is renderedselfclosing by means of a spring 7' which surrounds the valve stembetween the valve and the inside of the valve casing. The valve 33 maybe opened by a lever 36 which is pivoted at 37 to a bracket on casing Aand is connected intermediate its ends to the stem of the valve. Thevalve 30 may be opened bv a similarly mounted lever 38 (Fig. The freeends of levers 36 and 38 rest upon cams 39 and 40, respectively, whichcams are fixed upon a shaft 41. suitably sup )ortcd from the top wall ofeasing A. .onsequently, on rotation of shaft 41 in a clockwise direction(as viewed in Fig. 1) the lever 38 will be first lifted by cam 40 toopen valve 30 and thereby permit the washing water to be forced intocompartment (7 by the injector device described. Eventually, cam 40 willallow lever 38 to drop and close valve 30. About this time, preferablyshortly before. cam 39 raises lever 36 and opens valve 33 to admitrinsing water into compartment C. The two valves 30 and 33 have afunction in controlling the rotation of shaft 41 and it isthereforedesired to have the latter open slightly before the former closes,merely to insure continued rotation of the shaft. Thetwo valves are,

leads fro'm c'asing 43 into the lower part ofthe compartment(has-indicated in Fig. 1. The water used for washing and rinsing,- thatpassing throughvalves' 30 and 33,-sis

- made to operate the water) motor and subsequently discharges into thecompartment to be later used. Thus, nowateris wasted.

From pipes 29 and 35, two smaller pipes 45 and 46 extend upwardly andconnect with a horizontal pipe-47 which in turn delivers j into a pipe48 extending downwardly and tangentially into casing 43. A regulatingvalve 49 is preferably provided in pipe 48 to contr'ol'the flow ofwaterto the water motor and thus the speed of the latter.

' vTo start the water motor, an operating crank 50 is loosely mounted onshaft 41 and is provided with a clutch element 51 which,

when crank 50 .is' moved inwardly, may enage a mating clutch element 52fixed'on shaft 41 (Fig. 3). A spring 53 (Fig. 1) tends ,to hold crank 50in the illustrated position, wherein it abuts a stop 54 on casing 43.

ing to rest in the illustrated position. Thus,

each of the valves 30 and 33 areautomati cally held open-for apredetermined interval.

Associated-with the casing A is an automatic means to supply measuredquantities of soap or the like to the water in the lower part of easingA. Such means includes a container 58 for soap outlet end of container58 communicates with a cylindrical casing 59 in which is rotatablymounted a pocketed feed wheel 60, 'which'is arranged to turn step bystep and to carry measured charges of soap from the container anddeliver them into and through a passage 61 into casing A. On one end ofthe shaft 62 of wheel is a toothed wheel 63 (Fig. 2) and above thelatter is a crank pin 64, carried by a disk 65 fixed on the deshown byThe crank 50 may, however, be moved downwardly against the tension of 53until it abuts a second stop 55;

or the like, preferably in either powdered or liquid form. The

scribed shaft '41. The arrangement is such l that on each revolution ofshaft 41, the pin 64 will engage the toothed h l 63 and whereby the feedwheel 60 is turned to empty one its pockets into the The actuation ofthe wheel 63 turn it one step,

casing A: occurs just prior to the closing of valve33.

The operation will largely appear, from the foregoing description andneed only be briefly summarized. Having a suitable sup -ply of water, atthe proper temperature as thermometer T, the lowerpart of easing Aopening the valve 23. Having filled the casing to'the desired level andclosed valve 23 and having placed the basket B within compartment 0 andclosed door D, the operator pushes crank 50 inwardly to engage theclutch elements5l and 52 and then turns it clockwise until it strikesthe stop 55. This is' filled to the desired level by effects an openingof valve 30 and admits water to'the rotor 42, which controls the timingcams 39 and 40. The cam 40 first opcrates and holds valve 30 open forapredetermined interval during which water, a large part of which istaken from the base of compartment C and therefore has soap or the liketherein, is forced through the many nozzles to effectively washthearticles in basket 13. At or about the time that .valve 30 automaticallycloses, cam 39 comes into play and opens valve33 to admit clean hotwater to the nozzles for the rinsing'function. The rinsing continues fora predetermined interval which is terminated by the automatic closing ofvalve 33. I v

The invention has been disclosed herein for illustrative purposes. butthe scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather thanby the foregoing description.

lVhat I claim is- 1. In a washing machine. a washing compartment,sprinklers located in said compartment, separate means to deliverwashing and rinsing water to said sprinklers. a self-closingvalveassociated with each of such means, means actuated by the flow of waterto control the closing of the washing water,

valve and the opening and closing of the rinsing water valve, andmanually operable means to open the washing water valve and start saidmechanism in operation.

2. In a washing machine, a washing compartment, separate means todeliver washing and rinsing water thereto, a self-closing valveassociated with each of such means.

means to open the washing water and rinsin valve, connections from eachof the firstnamed means to said motor, manually operable means to openthe washing water valve and start said mechanism in operation, andregulating means associated with said connections to control the fiow ofwater to sa d motor, whereby the speed of said motor and the duration ofthe Washing and rinsing operations may be controlled.

4. In a washingmachine, a washing compartment, sprinklers located insaid compartment, means for supplying washing and rinsing water to saidsprinklers including a common conductor for both, a connection todeliver Washing water to one end of said conductor, means including avalve to control said delivery, a check valve to prevent return flow'into said connection, a connection to deliver rinsing water to theother end of said conductor, a valve to control said delivery, a checkvalve to prevent return flow into the last named connection, means foropening the wash water control valve, and means actuated by the pressureof the water passing through said valve for closing the latter and foropening and closing the other control valve.

5. In a washing machine, a washing compartment, a conductor to deliver'ashing water therein, a second conductor to deliver rinsing watertherein, a self-closing valve associated with each conductor, a camshaft, a cam thereon for each valve, a lever for each valve operable toopen its valve and movable by its cam, means to turn said shaftincluding a bucket wheel, and connections from each of said conductorsto supply a part of the washing and rinsing waterto said wheel.

6. In a washing machine, a washing compartment, a conductor to deliverwashing water therein, a second conductor to deliver rinsing watertherein, a self-closing valve associated with each conductor, a camshaft, a cam thereon for each valve, a

lever for each "alve operable to open its valve and movable by its cam,means to turn said shaft including a bucket wheel, connections from eachof said conductors to supply a part of the washing and rinsing water tosaid wheel, manually operable means to turn said shaft sufficiently sothat one of saideams opens its valve to admit water to said wheel, theother cam arranged to open its valve substantially at the time ofclosing of the first valve, so, that the supply to said wheel isuninterrupted.

:7. In a washing machine, a washing compartment in which water ismaintained at a substantially constant level, a plurality of spray pipesin said compartment, a pipe connecting said spray pipes with the waterin said compartment and with a supply of rinsi'ng water, and means foralternately drawing washing water from the compartment and forcing it inone direction through the connecting pipe to the spray pipes and forforcing rinsing water in the opposite direction through theconnectingpipe to the spray pipes.

8. In a washing machine, a washing compartment in which water ismaintained at a substantially constant level, a plurality of sprinklersin said compartment, a supply pipe connecting said sprinklers with thewater in said compartment and with the supply pipe through which watermay flow in one direction from the supply pipe and in the oppositedirection from said compartment, and means including an injector wherebythe water from the supply pipe may be utilizedfor forcing water from thecompartment through the connecting pipe to the sprinklers, and means forcontrolling the flow in each direction through said connecting pipe.

9. In a washing machine, a casing afiording a washing compartmentadapted to contain a body of water. maintained at sub-- stantially apredetermined level, a dispensing means operable to deliver measured'quantities of soap or the like into the casing and into said water,means to circulate such water, a controlling valve and manually operablemeans to open it, timing mechanism operable to close said valve after apredetermined interval, and means controlled by the timing mechanism tosuccessively operate-said dispensing means.

10. In a washing machine, a casing affording a washing compartmentadapted to contain a body of water maintained at substantially apredetermined level, a. dispensing means operable to deliver measuredquantities of soap or the like into the casing and into said water,means to circulate such water, a controlling valve and manuallv operablemeans to open it, means to deliver rinsing water into the casingincluding a controlling valve, timing mechanism operable to close thefirst-named valve after a predetermined interval, and to later open andclose the second-named valve, and means controlled by thetimingmechanism to suecessively operate said dispensing meanssubstantially at the time of closing of the second-named valve.

11. In a washing machine, a washing compartment, delivery pipes leadingthereto, a control valve in each of said pipes, a common source of watersupply for said pipes, manually operable means for opening one of saidvalves, and means actuated by the flow of water for closing said valveand for opening and closin the other valve.

ANTON o. CHMELZER,

